As reported on Monday on BoxingScene.com, David Haye is ready to stick to his promise and retire from the sport of boxing at the age of 31 after handing in his boxing license to the British Boxing Board of Control. The former world heavyweight champion will walk away from the ring when he celebrates his birthday on Thursday, after having insisted for the last two years that he would retire on his 31st birthday.
The Londoner had hoped to unify the division by beating both Klitschko brothers before hanging up his gloves on his landmark 31st. But his crushing defeat to Wladimir in July crumbled those plans.
'I received an email on Monday advising me Haye would not be carrying on,' said British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith. 'The board will discuss it on Wednesday but there is no way we could go against his wish not to renew his boxing licence. Without it, he can't fight.'
After his summer points defeat in Hamburg, which Haye blamed losing his WBA title on a broken toe, many had expected him to put his retirement plans on hold and wait to take on older brother Vitali Klitschko later this year.
But no negotiations have been forthcoming and the Hayemaker, who has recently walked away from his promoting duties, appears to have given up hope of reversing the worst night of his career when he lost spectacularly 117-109, 118-108 and 116-110 on points in Hamburg.
Asked whether he had always thought a Haye-Klitschko rematch was unlikely, Smith told BBC Radio Five Live: 'It doesn't really matter what I think, it's up to David and Adam [Booth, Haye's trainer and manager].'
'Obviously his last fight must have been bitterly disappointing for him, but if you look at his career as a whole he has been very good to the sport and we wish him well. There are many instances when heavyweights can go on longer than the smaller weight divisions but he has his whole life ahead of him, he has achieved a great deal and good luck to the man. You dedicate your life to your sport and to find something after that endeavour is very difficult for anybody.'
